Conservation Planning and Park Management (B.S.) - Park Administration and Management Specialization

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus

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Students standing at the entrance to a state park.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek, Assistant Professor
Department of Natural Resource Management
Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Laboratory, Room 139C
605-688-4912

Program Information

Conservation Planning and Park Management is an interdisciplinary science that trains students to develop conservation strategies at landscape scales. The specialization in Park Administration and Management prepares student for careers in park management, particularly Federal and state government managed facilities. The courses outlined in this specialization are designed to enhance the human management focus needed for this career track.

Course Delivery Format

Conservation Planning and Park Management coursework is delivered on-campus in lecture, discussion, and laboratory settings, and off-campus in numerous field-based settings.

Student Learning Outcomes

Conservation Planning and Park Management graduates will:

Demonstrate understanding of ecological and environmental principles required for management of natural resources for multiple-uses, including (but not limited to) wildlife habitat, water management, ecosystems services, recreation, and livestock production.
Describe how natural resource management fits into the context of society and how societal factors (e.g., economics, policy, laws, regulations, attitudes, behaviors, norms) influence natural resource management.
Lead and work with others as appropriate to successfully manage natural resources.
Demonstrate appropriate use of natural resource field & lab techniques as well as contemporary technology.
Analyze and critically evaluate data and other information.
Effectively communicate (both written and orally) with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Demonstrate an understanding of the professional and ethical responsibility that is necessary for a natural resource manager.

Requirements for Conservation Planning and Park Management Major - Park Administration and Management Specialization: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: SGR #1 Elective Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication: SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences: SGR #3 Elective Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities:
SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 114 - College Algebra (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 151 - General Biology I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
, BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1 , CHEM 106 - Chemistry Survey (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 , and CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1

Major Requirements

ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
ABS 475 - Integrated Natural Resource Management Credits: 3
BOT 301 - Plant Systematics (COM) Credits: 3
and BOT 301L - Plant Systematics Lab (COM) Credits: 0
or BOT 405 - Grasses and Grasslike Plants Credits: 1
and BOT 405L - Grasses and Grasslike Plants Lab Credits: 2
or BOT /RANG 419 - Plant Ecology (COM) Credits: 2
and BOT /RANG 419L - Plant Ecology Lab (COM) Credits: 1
GEOG 131 - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4
and GEOG 131L - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
or GEOG 132 - Physical Geography: Natural Landscapes (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4
and GEOG 132L - Physical Geography: Natural Landscapes Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
GEOG 365 - Land Use and Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 372 - Introduction to GIS (COM) Credits: 2
GEOG 372L - Introduction to GIS Lab (COM) Credits: 1
HO 339 - Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Credits: 3
or BOT 303 - Forest Ecology and Management Credits: 2
and BOT 303L - Forest Ecology and Management Lab Credits: 1
LDR 435 - Organizational Leadership and Team Development Credits: 3
NRM 119 - Orientation to Natural Resource Management Credits: 2
NRM 221 - Introduction to Conservation Planning and Management Credits: 3
NRM 230 - Natural Resource Management Techniques Credits: 2
NRM 276 - Scientific Communications Credits: 1
NRM 282 - Natural Resource Statistics Credits: 2
and NRM 282L - Natural Resource Statistics Lab Credits: 1
or STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3
NRM 300 - Laws and Policies in Natural Resource Management Credits: 3
NRM 311 - Principles of Ecology (COM) Credits: 3
NRM 321 - Park Interpretation Credits: 3
PS 213 - Soils [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2
PS 213L - Soils Lab [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
RANG 321 - Wildland Ecosystems Credits: 3
RANG 374 - Habitat Conservation and Management Credits: 3
RANG 374L - Habitat Conservation and Management Lab Credits: 1
RECR 415 - Sport and Recreation Facility Management Credits: 3
WL 430 - Human Dimensions in Natural Resource Management Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select three courses from the following list. Credits: 9

BADM / MGMT 360 - Organization and Management (COM) Credits: 3
BLAW 350 - Legal Environment of Business (COM) Credits: 3
CM 216 - Construction Methods and Materials Credits: 3
HRM 460 - Human Resource Management (COM) Credits: 3

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements*	32 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	70 Credit Hours
Electives**	18 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements and Supporting Coursework.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.